4. Hard Times

Keith – mandolin, standard tuning
Mark – DADGAD

Come all you good people I’ll sing you a song,
About the poor people how they get along
They start in the spring finish up in the fall,
And when it’s all over they’ve nothing at all
And it’s hard hard times

You go out in the morning on a drift still ,
And it’s over the side you will hear the line knell
For out flows the jigger and freeze with the cold
And as for to starting all gone in the hole
And it’s hard, hard times

The fine side of fishing you’ll have bye and bye
The fine side of fishing you’ll have a good bye
7 dollars for large, 6.50 for small
Take out your West Indie and you’ve nothing at all
And it’s hard, hard times

When you’ve got some split and hung out for to dry
It will take all your time for to brush off the flies
To keep off the maggots is more than you’ll do
Then out comes the sun and they’re all split in two
And it’s hard, hard times

Then next comes the carpenter to build you a house
He’ll build it so snug you will scarce find a mouse
But the roof it will leak and the rain it will pour
The chimney will smoke and it’s open the door
And it’s hard, hard times

Then next comes the doctor the worst of them all
Saying what’s been the matter with you all the fall?
He says he can cure you of all you disease
When the money’s all gone you can die if you please
And it’s hard, hard times

So the best thing to do is to work with a will
And when it’s all over and you’re hauled on the hill
And you’re hauled on the hill and put down in the cold
Well you’re dead in your grave but you’re still in the hole
And it’s hard, hard times

5. The Brown Girl

Keith – DADGAD
Mark – high strung guitar

When first to this country I came as a stranger
I placed my affection on a handsome young girl
She being young and tender, her waist slim and slender
She appeared like an angel or some gypsy queen

On the banks of the river where first I beheld her
She appeared like an angel or some Grecian queen
Her eyes shone like diamonds, her hair gently waving
Her cheeks bloomed like roses or blood on the snow

It was your cruel father who caused this disturbance
Because that you were of a higher degree
But I am determined now all for to gain you
Although I belong to a low family

She cries “Charming Johnny, don’t be melancholy
There is never no other my favour will gain
There’s no other creature will e’er gain my favour
On the banks of the Burborne, I’ll wander with thee

Since I have gained you, my bride I will make you
I’ll put rings on your fingers and gold drops in your ears
With diamonds and pearls I’ll deck my brown girl
With all sorts of grandeur, I’ll deck you my dear

My name is Delaney, no blemish can shame me
I might have had riches had I stayed at home
Through drinking and gambling, night walking and courting
Was the cause of my ruin and absence from home

7. Gypsy Davy

The landlord he came home at night
inquiring for his lady
The answer that was made to him
She has gone with a gypsy davy

Come saddle me up my little brown steed
Come saddle him up most speedily
I’ve rode all night and I’ll ride all day
Til I overtake my lady

So he rode along til he came to a place
where the water was muddy and rilely
And stooping down to take a drink
It was there that he spied his lady

Would you forsake your house and home
would you forsake your baby?
Would you forsake your own true love
And go with a gypsy davy?

Yes I’ll forsake my house and home
And I’ll forsake my baby
And I’ll forsake my own true love
And go with a gypsy davy

8. A Sailor Courted

Keith – EADGAE

A sailor courted a farmer’s daughter
who lived convenient to the isle of Man.
Give heed good people what followed after
they courted long but underhand.
One day at parting after discoursing
something concerning the ocean wide
He said “My dear, at our next meeting
if you consent I’ll make you my bride.

She said “For sailors we don’t admire them
Because they sail to so many parts
And the more they love us the more they’ll slight us
and leave us after with broken hearts
“You need not fear, my dearest dear,
I don’t intend for to treat you so
But I have once more to cross the ocean
You know my darling that I must go”

The news being carried unto his mother
Before he put his foot on board
That he was courting a farmer’s daughter
One penny portion could not afford
One penny portion going to the ocean
Like one distracted his mother ran
“If you don’t forsake her, your bride not make her
I will disown you my only son”

Oh mother dear you are in a passion
and I am sorry for what you’ve said
Don’t you remember your first beginning
my father took you a servant maid
So don’t dispraise her I mean to raise her
just as my father with you has done
Therefore I’ll take her my bride I’ll make her
though you disown me, your only son

When the lady fair heard the pleasing story
that she to sea with her love might go
She said “my portion, you need not mind it
for I have money you do not know”
“Money or not love, you are my lot love,
you’ve won my heart and affection still
Therefore I’ll take you, my bride I’ll make you,
my scolding mother say what she will”

9. Parting Friends

Keith – DADGAD
Mark – DADGAD

Farewell my friends I’m bound for Canaan
I’m travelling through the wilderness
Your company has been delightful
You who doth leave my mind distressed

I go away behind to leave you
Perhaps never to meet again
But if we never have the pleasure
I hope we’ll meet on Canaan’s land

I know dark clouds are hovering o’er me
I know my way is rough and steep
But beauteous fields lie just before me
Where the redeemed their vigil keep

And when my journey’s finally over
When rest and peace upon me lie
High o’er the roads where once we travelled
Silently there my mind will fly

11. The Stormy Scenes of Winter

Keith – EADGAE

The Stormy scenes of winter incline to frost and snow
The dark shades o’er the centres where the stormy winds do blow
You are the only one I choose to be my dear
But your constant heart is frozen and well wrapped up I fear

I went to see my love one night she proved most scornfully
I asked her for to marry, she would not answer me
The night is almost spent love, tis near the break of day
And I want an answer, my dear what do you say?

She said ‘To tell you plainly I’ll lead a single life
I never thought it suitable that I should be your wife
So take that for an answer and for yourself provide
I have got another sweetheart and you I lay aside

Now since you are for changing the old love for the new
Then I will be for ranging the stormy billows through
And when I have got money to some tavern I will go
And I’ll drink a health to Flora although I answered no

You have great stores of riches and more you’d like to gain
You gained all my fond speeches and now you me disdain
Your riches will not last long, they’ll melt away like snow
And when poverty does frown on you you’ll think of me I know

the small birds they are singing so cheerily and so fine
My heart it would be singing if Flora would be mine
I’ll choose the fair and handsome, I will be happy still
Oh this world is wide and lonesome, if you won’t some other will